Mixed function oxygenases and xenobiotic detoxication/toxication systems in bivalve molluscs

Viruses infecting bivalve molluscs

Bivalve molluscs are filter feeders and as a consequence they may bioaccumulate in their tissues viruses that infect humans and higher vertebrates. However, there have also been described mortalities of bivalve molluscs associated with viruses belonging to different families. Mass mortalities of adult Portuguese oysters, Crassostrea angulata, among French livestocks (between 1967 and 1973) were...

Saxitoxin analysis in bivalve molluscs

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is caused by consumption of a wide variety of shellfish which accumulated saxitoxins (STXs) from marine dinoflagellates (Alexandrium minutum, A. tamarense, Gymnodinium catenatum, Pyrodinium bahamense) and affect a wide variety of shellfish. There are about 20 saxitoxin analogs with closely related structures. A regulatory level of 0.8 mg/kg shellfish meat as ...

Domoic acid analysis in bivalve molluscs

Domoic acid (DA) was identified as the toxin responsible for an outbreak of illness in Canada in 1987, caused by eating blue mussels that had accumulated DA as a result of the presence of Pseudo-nitzschia pungens. It is named amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP). Since a regulatory level of 20 mg DA/kg of shellfish meat was established. The methods of determination of domoic acid are reviewed: bio...

Life History Traits and Population Processes in Marine Bivalve Molluscs

In this thesis, I investigated the how the life history characteristics of the clam Mya arenaria determine the population response to chronic contaminant exposure. To predict the potential responses of a broadcast-spawning life history such as that of M. arenaria, I surveyed the literature on a variety of bivalve species. By incorporating information on growth, survival, and reproduction into m...

Part I Introduction on Biotoxins and Bivalve Molluscs